Chemistry gives birth to new synthetics benefitting women, in this case sheer stockings.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Audio Productions, Inc.
Sponsor: Deering Milliken Research Corp.
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keywords: Fashion; Synthetics; Gender roles

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: LBFC - - February 28, 2012
Subject: How Do I receive the Legal Rights to this?
I want to use this in a documentary how do I get the rights?

Reviewer: Pixiecherries - - August 7, 2007
Subject: I wonder if it was better than modern hoisery.
No doubt this was a revolutionary product. I wonder if it was more comfortable than what they use in pantyhose today. Sometimes an older product will be better than newer ones because ultimately there is money to be saved by reducing some of the better quality. I have found that some older clothing from this time is much better made than modern clothes. Makes you wonder...

Reviewer: autoguy - - September 18, 2006
Subject: It will save the universe!
Yes ladies, it's Agilon yarn! Sure to have every man around trying to crawl right up your skirt! Film advises how to get customers into the store? Oh hell, just have some of those models in the window lifting their skirts like that! I, for one, will be sure to stop in! Now that I am properly informed, I will start doing my own market research. Pardon me Miss, is that Agilon yarn? Show me your "comfort zone" baby! *drool, slurp*

Reviewer: equipmentguy - - September 28, 2005
Subject: What a film clip
I just watched this short film on our local cable TV access channel. I am impressed. I am sure back then my parents were distracting me so not to watch this.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - June 26, 2005
Subject: Do you know where your Look Zone is?
A fun filled salute to Nylon stockings, er, I mean Agilon stockings is shown here in this most beautiful film to show off their latest breakthrough. It stretches this way and that way! People will be able to see your Look Zone better, while you bask in your comfort zone! (DonÃÂt know what IÃÂm talking about? Then speak to your Agilon representative fool!). Plenty of goofy shots of models zombiely smiling and fondling the fabric is shown. We also get to see an ultralame TV spot! This is all fun fun fun and is highly recommended!

Reviewer: Marysz - - September 30, 2004
Subject: Fits Garters of Any Length
A sales film pushing Agilon stretch nylon stockings. The innumberable shots of disembodied womenÃÂÃÂs legs encased in Agilon reminded me of Marshall McLuhanÃÂÃÂs book, ÃÂÃÂThe Mechanical Bride.ÃÂÃÂ McLuhan writes that the disembodied parts of womenÃÂÃÂs bodies used in advertising turns them into "display objects like the grill work on a car."

I notice the film evades the two most important questions women would have about these stockings: do they get runs and how much do they cost? The lingerie saleswoman we see at the end of the film (who probably wears sturdy support hosiery since she stands all day) is going to have to come up with her own sales pitch. The film's inane talk about ÃÂÃÂthe beauty zoneÃÂÃÂ and ÃÂÃÂthe comfort zoneÃÂÃÂ isnÃÂÃÂt going to cut the mustard with female customers who will suspect that these stockings are overpriced and flimsy.

Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf - - August 2, 2004
Subject: Legs (Inside Leg Mix)
Retailer promo film for Agilon nylon yarn for stockings. Includes a sample TV ad for the yarn.

While the leggy models are nice to look at (with some fine fashion from the 1950s and 1920s), the curious thing about this promo is it explains how competition yarns get their stretch, but never explains how Agilon gets it! Also some nice period illustrations and retailing techniques.

Shotlist

Ken Smith sez: The Deering Milliken Research Corporation sponsored this visually striking production to push Agilon, a "new and better stretch yarn for stockings." A narrator tells us that "people want better, newer, more beautiful things" and that Agilon is superior to standard Nylon, which has "no standard for stretch." The rhetoric in this film is more or less typical, but its stylish visual look makes it memorable. Lots of leggy models and sparse fifties sets.
0:26
Drawings: horse and buggy, pink car drawn as if in motion
Background drawing of beachside
Woman in 20's style bathing suit twirling open parasol
Background drawing of roofed "cabana"
Woman in 1 piece bathing suit, someone throws her a beach ball ; she catches it and smiles at camera
Background drawing of drinking bar
Woman dressed in yellow flapper dress with cigarette holder in hand. She lifts leg seductively
Background drawing patio
Woman sitting at patio table reading magazine

1:25
B/W magazine pages of women's legs in stretch stockings
Huge WANTED across screen
Camera pans back, cut in 4 mannequin legs with stockings on
Sign of Deering Milliken Research Corp.

1:58
Bubbling chemist's flasks and beakers - camera pans back
Spinning logo for "Stockings of AGILON"

2:18
Spools of nylon, silk upright
Drawing, animation of nylon thread under magnifying glass
Titles : ORDINARY STRETCH NYLON & STRETCH
Large question mark over drawing of magnifying glass

3:18
2 polished fingers hold up 2 sticks with nylon fibers wrapped around them - fibers are stretched, then relaxed.

3:34
Woman in strapless "teddy" outfit & many necklaces holds up nylon stocking & smiles at camera
Same woman shown seated - barefoot - putting on stocking
MCU her 2 legs as she fastens stocking with garter
She lifts leg & seductively rubs hand up leg

3:59
CU hands unfolding unworn nylon stocking & stretching it both lengthwise & widthwise
MCU foot poised on vanity seat, stocking on hands enter frame & caress area between ankle and knee
Foot is taken off chair seat - camera pans to shot of knees. Hand caresses from knee to lower thigh
Shot of lower legs (from knee down) with high heels - automatically rotating on stand.

4:50
Camera pans up as legs continue to revolve

4:51
Woman in bra/girdle ensemble site seductively on edge of vanity seat - bends knee & kicks leg high into the air repeatedly as she stares into camera
Camera pans to different angle (behind) as leg kicks

5:06
Forest of mannequin legs in stockings - camera pans down
Logo - AGILON
Cover of VOGUE magazine - hand opens magazine to advertisement for AGILON

5:28
Animation - big white letters TV camera pans out to drawings of electronics - televisions, antennas, TV camera, all surrounding white letters (TV)
Repeat of forest of mannequin legs

5:40
MCU old TV set at sides bits of furniture, chair, lamp...
CU old TV set's screen and dissolves into 2 pairs of woman's legs dancing across screen - B/W
Camera pans out quickly - cut to 2 dancing women at LS with AGILON logo behind them
VS 2 women
MCU 2 legs - coming up form bottom of screen & placed foot to foot - camera pans back to 2 dancers
2 women stretch a stocking

6:46
TV logo - surrounded by drawings of stores stamped with YOUR STORE

6:52
Woman at counter flanked by 2 mannequin legs. She picks up stocking, shows it and stretches it.
Shot of lower leg on vanity seat
Shot of upper leg
Revolving mannequin legs in stockings
Logo - AGILON
CU woman holding thigh part of Agilon stocking.
Deering Milliken Co. (sponsor) Synthetics (Agilon) Agilon (synthetic fiber) Fibers Stockings Hosiery Clothing Models Fashion Women Gender roles Surrealism Television screens Television commercials Advertising Graphics (horse and carriage) Graphics (speeding car) Backdrops Set design Umbrellas Swimsuits 1890s Historical recreations Beach balls Stockings (silk) Silk stockings Cigarette holders Magazines (woman reading) Nylon stockings Body parts Graphics ("Wanted") Legs (artificial) Mannequins (legs) Signs ("Deering Milliken Research Corp.") Experiments Science Bubbling fluids Fluids (bubbling) Chemistry Beakers Fluids (color) Smoke (from fluids) Animation Nylon (under magnifying glass) Magnifying glasses Graphics (magnifying glasses) Yarn (stretching) Fingernails (women's, painted) Legs Auto-eroticism Jewelry Diamonds Bracelets (diamond) Vogue magazine Graphic ("T.V.") Television set Television commercials (singing) Feet Shoes Workers (sales) Models (fashion) Graphics ("star")
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